Atomic Melts Down Loon

April 20, 2004

Luke Edgar knows how to throw a good party. As general manager of Atomic Snowboards, he hosted another good party at Loon Mountain, New Hampshire on April 6-9, with a little help from his crew. And if you had seen all the alcohol stocked in his room at the lodge, you’d know it was going to be a good party.

Called the Atomic Meltdown, the event featured bands and DJs at night, costumes, a skateboard ramp in front of the lodge, and some great riding thanks to great spring snow conditions and the hard work of the Loon Mountain park staff. The pipe was sweet, jumps were soft, and the rails were sliding great.

The event was targeted at East Coast snowboard shop employees in an effort to give everyone one last blast of spring riding. There were also plenty of Atomic snowboard demos, and all kinds of super-secret drawings of next year’s products for critical review.

Unfortunately for Luke and the crew, the East Coast shops were over the whole riding thing, especially after the super cold and harsh January and February. Attendance was way below what Atomic had hoped for, but those who did attend made the most of the event.

Highlights included Luke dealing poker until late one evening, playing the house and taking everyone’s money. On party night, costumes came out and the usually timid became raging freaks. Atomic teamrider Jaime MacLeod assumed an alter ego and raged with the whole crew.

The Loon locals ruled the mini ramp, while Atomic rep Jim Rocket got in with the reggae band. Right Coast Riders ruler Micah Murray did his best to keep things rolling along, while Atomic’s Curt Hulst got the good Samaritan award for dragging Krush Kulesza (attending from The Summit At Snoqualmie in Washington) to the hospital after he broke his arm stage diving out of a moving van. Ouch!

The most-dedicated-hobo award went to Kyle Sullivan, an instructor from Holiday Mountain in New York. He read about the Meltdown on the web site, and hitchhiked all the way just to hang out and party with the crew. (If you’ve never been to Loon, it’s not an easy place to hitchhike to!)

In the end, two days of bluebird, soft slushy spring snow and great park and pipe riding at Loon Mountain (thanks to Jay Scambio and his crew) was enough to keep those who attended stoked on the whole thing. For those who missed it, you really missed it. Next time Luke Edgar and crew throw a party, you won’t want to skip it.